Server capable of accessing and rotating storage devices accommodated therein

ABSTRACT

A server capable of rotating and accessing storage devices accommodated therein includes a server chassis, a motherboard, a power supply module, two racks, and a system cooling module. The server chassis includes two side plates and an accommodating space between the two side plates. The power supply module is disposed in the accommodating space and arranged corresponding to the motherboard. The racks are arranged parallel to each other and detachably connected to the server chassis. A pivot structure and a handle for operating the rack are disposed at the rack near the motherboard. The rack is rotatable with respect to the server chassis by means of the pivot structure. The system cooling module is disposed adjacent to the rack. At least one cord passage is provided between the system cooling module and each of the side plates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No.14/552,647 filed on Nov. 25, 2014. The entire disclosure is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a server, particularly to a servercapable of accessing and rotating the storage devices accommodatedtherein, thereby allowing a maximum possible number of the storagedevices to be accommodated in the server.

BACKGROUND

The conventional server system mainly has electronic devices such as themotherboards, the storage devices, and the power supply installed in acasing. The interior space of the casing is usually divided into aplurality of insertion spaces which are provided to accommodate multiplestorage devices arranged in an array. The most common storage deviceincludes a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), etc.However, due to the demand of calculation ability and massive datastorage, the server needs to accommodate more storage devices in a verylimited casing space. Therefore, the structure and configuration of thecasing also needs to be changed correspondingly.

In order to increase the quantity of the storage devices, the casing ofthe conventional server is provided with racks arranged parallelly toreceive the storage devices. Since it is not easy to pull out or replaceand service the storage devices in rack near the motherboard, a simpleflexible element is fixed, by screws, to a side wall of the rack, sothat the rack is rotatable with respect to the casing. In theconventional server, the storage devices are stacked horizontally in theinsertion spaces of the rack, and the quantity of the storage devices istoo limited to satisfy the demand. If increasing the quantity of thestorage devices, the flexible element on the rack is not able to providesufficient torque to support the rack and allow its rotation to acertain angle.

Accordingly, the inventor made various studies to improve and solve theabove-mentioned problem, on the basis of which the present invention isaccomplished.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a server capable ofrotating and accessing the storage devices accommodated therein, whichallows a maximum possible number of the storage devices to beaccommodated in the server, and provides a high torque.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a servercapable of rotating and accessing the storage devices accommodatedtherein, whereby a rack can be operated and positioned easily andconveniently.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a server capable of rotatingand accessing storage devices accommodated therein, comprising a serverchassis, a motherboard, a power supply module, two racks, and a systemcooling module. The server chassis includes two side plates and anaccommodating space between the two side plates. The motherboard isdisposed in the accommodating space, the power supply module is disposedin the accommodating space and arranged corresponding to themotherboard, and the power supply module is electrically connected tothe motherboard. The racks are arranged parallel to each other anddetachably connected to the server chassis. Each of the racks includes aplurality of insertion spaces, the storage devices are verticallyaccommodated in the insertion spaces respectively. A pivot structure anda handle for operating the rack are disposed at one side of the racknear the motherboard. The rack is rotatable with respect to the serverchassis by means of the pivot structure. The system cooling module isdisposed in the accommodating space and electrically connected to themotherboard. The system cooling module is disposed adjacent to one sideof the rack. A first cord passage is provided between the rack and eachof the side plates, a second cord passage is provided between the systemcooling module and each of the side plates, and the storage devicesdisposed in the racks are electrically connected to the motherboard viathe first cord passage and the second cord passage.

The present invention further has the following advantages. The systemcooling module includes an increased number of fans, and the fans aredisposed centralized in the center of the server chassis by means of thesystem cooling module, so the assembly can be accomplished easily andconveniently, and the system airflow can be focused on the storagedevices in the rack to expel the heat generated by the storage devicesto enhance heat dissipation effectively.

Furthermore, the racks and the system cooling module each define a cordpassage between them and the two side plates of the server chassis, sothe storage devices in the racks can be electrically connected to themotherboard via the cord passage, thereby achieving ideal and convenientwiring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription, and the drawings given herein below are for illustrationonly, and thus does not limit the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, illustrating aserver capable of rotating and accessing storage devices accommodatedtherein;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the present invention, viewed atanother viewing angle, illustrating the server capable of rotating andaccessing the storage devices accommodated therein;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing theinterior structure of the server capable of rotating and accessing thestorage devices accommodated therein;

FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention, illustrating theserver with a server chassis omitted;

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 5, i.e. a perspective viewillustrating a pivot structure and a handle according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the present invention, illustratingoperating the handle to release a second supporting body;

FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the present invention, illustratingthat a movable bracket of the pivot structure rotates the secondsupporting body;

FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the present invention, illustrating asystem cooling module; and

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions and technical contents of the present inventionare illustrated below in conjunction with the accompany drawings.However, it is to be understood that the descriptions and the accompanydrawings disclosed herein are merely illustrative and exemplary and notintended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the present invention provides a server 100capable of rotating and accessing storage devices accommodated therein,comprising a server chassis 110, a motherboard 120, a power supplymodule 130, two racks 140, and a system cooling module 200. The storagedevice in the present embodiment is preferably a hard disk drive (HDD)or a solid state drive (SSD). However, in other embodiments, the storagedevice can also be an optical disk driver, a flash memory, or a suitablemass storage device.

The server chassis 110 includes two side plates 112, a bottom plate 114connected to the two side plates 112, and an accommodating space 116among the two side plates 112 and the bottom plate 114. The motherboard120 is disposed in the accommodating space 116. The power supply module130 is disposed in the accommodating space 116 and arrangedcorresponding to the motherboard 120. The power supply module 130 iselectrically connected to the motherboard 120.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the present embodiment further includes anopening 102 and an electronic device 230 disposed corresponding to theopening 102. The opening 102 communicates with the accommodating space116. The electronic device 230 is electrically connected to themotherboard 120. In the present embodiment, the electronic device 230 ispreferably a storage device, or more preferably two storage devices inorder to increase the quantity of the storage devices. The serverchassis 110 further includes a partition plate 104 disposedcorresponding to the motherboard 120, the partition plate 104 dividingthe accommodating space 116 into a first layer 106 and a second layer108. The electronic device 230 and the power supply module 130 arepreferably disposed in the first layer 106, and the motherboard 120 witha plurality of I/O ports is selectively disposed in the second layer 108depending on the user's requirement.

The racks 140 are arranged parallel to each other and detachablyconnected to the server chassis 110. Each of the racks 140 includes aplurality of insertion spaces 146. The storage devices (not illustrated)are vertically accommodated in the insertion spaces 146 respectively. Inother words, the storage devices are installed in the respectiveinsertion spaces 146 of the racks 140, in a direction parallel to eachof the side plates 112. In this way, a maximum possible number of thestorage devices can be installed. According to the present embodiment,each rack 140 can hold up to 24 storage devices or up to 10 kilograms.

A pivot structure 160 and a handle 170 for operating the rack 140 aredisposed at one side of the rack 140 near the motherboard 120. By meansof the pivot structure 160, the rack 140 is rotatable with respect tothe server chassis 110. The system cooling module 200 is disposed in theaccommodating space 116 and electrically connected to the motherboard120. The system cooling module 200 is disposed adjacent to one side ofthe rack 140. A first cord passage 190 is provided between the rack 140and each of the side plates 112. A second cord passage 192 is providedbetween the system cooling module 200 and each of the side plates 112.The storage devices disposed in the racks 140 are electrically connectedto the motherboard 120 via the first cord passage 190 and the secondcord passage 192.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the first cord passages 190 and eachof the second cord passages 192 defined by the side plate 112 at thesame side are disposed correspondingly and communicate with each other.Therefore the storage devices accommodated in the rack 140 (i.e. thefirst supporting body 142) in the front end are electrically connectedto the motherboard 120 via each of the first cord passages 190 and eachof the second cord passages 192. The second cord passage 192 is used toreceive power lines or signal lines of the storage devices of both ofthe racks 140, thereby achieving ideal and convenient wiring of theserver 100.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the racks 140 are a first supporting body 142and a second supporting body 150. The insertion spaces 146 of the firstsupporting body 142 are disposed toward the outside of the serverchassis 110, and consequently users can pull out or replace and servicethe storage devices directly, so the pivot structure 160 is notrequired. The second supporting body 150 is disposed between the firstsupporting body 142 and the system cooling module 200, and it is noteasy for the users to pull out or replace and service the storagedevices, so that the pivot structure 160 preferably collaborates withthe second supporting body 150.

In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the pivot structure 160is separated from the second supporting body 150 and disposed on abottom plate 114 of the server chassis 110. In other words, the pivotstructure 160 is exposed and disposed outside of the second supportingbody 150, so that higher torque and stronger supporting force areprovided, and the second supporting body 150 is rotated, with respect tothe server chassis 110, using the reaction force provided from thebottom plate 114. The handle 170 is disposed on a supporting plate 152of the second supporting body 150.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 11, the pivot structure 160 includes a hinge162, a fixed bracket 164 and a movable bracket 166, wherein the fixedbracket 164 and the movable bracket 166 are connected to the hinge 162.The hinge 162 includes a torque generation assembly composed of, forexample, an axial body, a torsion spring enclosing the axial body, andvarious washers. The hinge 162 is conventional technique, so thedetailed structure thereof is not described herein for brevity. One endof the fixed bracket 164 is fixed to the bottom plate 114. The movablebracket 166 is rotatable with respect to the fixed bracket 164. Thehandle 170 made of iron, steel, or alloy thereof includes a main body174, a pivot shaft 172 pivotally connected to the supporting plate 152,and an operating portion 176 and a hook portion 178 respectivelydisposed at two sides of the main body 174.

The pivot shaft 172 passes through the main body 174 and is connected tothe movable bracket 166 and the supporting plate 152, so the operatingportion 176 is rotatable about the pivot shaft 172 as center. Theoperating portion 176 is perpendicularly connected to one end of themain body 174 in a direction toward the supporting plate 152, therebyfacilitating the user's operating and releasing the second supportingbody 150. Furthermore, the pivot structure 160 further includes a bolt168 protruding from one side of the fixed bracket 164, the hook portion178 includes at one side an inclined surface 180 corresponding to thebolt 168, so the inclined surface 180 is slidable to engage the hookportion 178 with the bolt 168.

For operation safety and other purposes, the main body 174 furtherincludes a hole 182 and a block plate 184 bent from the hole 182; theblock plate 184 protrudes toward the supporting plate 152 to contact anedge of the movable bracket 166 so as to restrict a rotation angle ofthe operating portion 176. The movable bracket 166 includes arestriction plate 167 adjacent to the hinge 162, the restriction plate167 is perpendicularly connected to the movable bracket 166 to obstructthe fixed bracket 164 to thereby restrict a rotation angle of the secondsupporting body 150.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when operating the handle 170, the hookportion 178 is released from the restriction of the bolt 168. That is tosay, when pulling up the operating portion 176, the hook portion 178moves away from the bolt 168. At this point, as shown in FIGS. 10 and11, the movable bracket 166 of the pivot structure 160 drives the secondsupporting body 150 to rotate away from the server chassis 110, and therotation movement stops when the restriction plate 167 contacts an edgeof the fixed bracket 164. At this moment, the user can pull out orreplace and service the storage devices of the second supporting body150, so maintenance or examination is very convenient.

The present embodiment further includes a flexible element 188 forrestoring the handle 170 to its original position, and two ends of theflexible elements are connected to the movable bracket 166 and the mainbody 174. The flexible element 188 is preferably a compression spring orother suitable spring. After pulling out or replacing the storagedevice, the user can press down the second supporting body 150 toposition the second supporting body 150 in the chassis 110.

During the pressing-down process, the inclined surface 180 of the handle170 slidably contacts the bolt 168 until the hook portion 178 is engagedwith the bolt 168 to position the second supporting body 150, as shownin FIGS. 6 and 7. Accordingly, by utilizing a single handle 170, thepresent invention can manipulate and position the second supporting body150 more conveniently.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the system cooling module 200 furtherincludes a fixed frame 210 and a plurality of fans 220 disposed in thefixed frame 210. A circuit board 119 having a plurality of connectors118 is further disposed on the bottom plate 114 of the server chassis110, and each of the connectors 118 is electrically connected to themotherboard 120. The fans 220 are vertically disposed along thedirection of the fixed frame 210 and are connected to the respectiveconnectors 118. Therefore, by using the system cooling module 200 of thepresent embodiment, assembly can be accomplished more easily andconveniently and, in addition to that, by means of the fans 220 disposedcentralized in the center of the server chassis 110, the system airflowcan be focused on the storage devices in each rack 140 to expel the heatgenerated from the storage devices, thereby effectively enhancing theheat dissipation. It is preferable that the diameter size of each fan220 referred herein is 8 inches, and there are 5 or more fans in total.

It should be noted that, the first cord passage 190 is provided betweenthe rack 140 and each of the side plates 112, and the second cordpassage 192 is provided between the system cooling module 200 and eachof the side plates 112, so the storage devices in the racks 140 areelectrically connected to the motherboard 120 via the first and secondcord passages 190 in a centralized manner, 192, thereby achieving idealand convenient wiring of the server 100.

It is to be understood that the above descriptions are merely thepreferable embodiments of the present invention and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present invention. Equivalent changes andmodifications made in the spirit of the present invention are regardedas falling within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server capable of rotating and accessingstorage devices accommodated therein, comprising: a server chassisincluding two side plates and an accommodating space between the twoside plates; a motherboard disposed in the accommodating space; a powersupply module disposed in the accommodating space and arrangedcorresponding to the motherboard, the power supply module beingelectrically connected to the motherboard; two racks arranged parallelto each other and detachably connected to the server chassis, each ofthe racks including a plurality of insertion spaces, the storage devicesbeing vertically accommodated in the insertion spaces respectively, apivot structure being disposed at one side of the rack near themotherboard; and a system cooling module disposed in the accommodatingspace and electrically connected to the motherboard, the system coolingmodule being disposed adjacent to one side of the rack, wherein a firstcord passage is provided between the rack and each of the side plates, asecond cord passage is provided between the system cooling module andeach of the side plates, and the storage devices disposed in the racksare electrically connected to the motherboard via the first cord passageand the second cord passage, wherein the racks are a first supportingbody and a second supporting body, the second supporting body isdisposed between the first supporting body and the system coolingmodule, the pivot structure is separated from the second supporting bodyand disposed on a bottom plate of the server chassis, and a handle isdisposed on a supporting plate of the second supporting body.
 2. Theserver according to claim 1, wherein the pivot structure includes ahinge and a fixed bracket and a movable bracket, the fixed bracket andthe movable bracket are connected to the hinge, the handle includes amain body, a pivot shaft pivotally connected to the supporting plate,and an operating portion and a hook portion respectively disposed at twosides of the main body.
 3. The server according to claim 2, wherein thepivot shaft passes through the main body and is connected to the movablebracket and the supporting plate, and the operating portion isperpendicularly connected to the main body in a direction toward thesupporting plate.
 4. The server according to claim 2, wherein the pivotstructure further includes a bolt protruding from one side of the fixedbracket, one side of the hook portion corresponding to the bolt isprovided with an inclined surface, and the inclined surface is slidableto engage the hook portion with the bolt.
 5. The server according toclaim 2, wherein the main body further includes a hole and a block platebent from the hole, the block plate protrudes toward the supportingplate, the movable bracket includes a restriction plate adjacent to thehinge, the restriction plate is perpendicularly connected to the movablebracket to obstruct the fixed bracket to thereby restrict a rotationangle of the second supporting body.
 6. The server according to claim 2,further comprising a flexible element for restoring the handle, two endsof the flexible elements being connected to the movable bracket and themain body respectively.
 7. A server capable of rotating and accessingstorage devices accommodated therein, comprising: a server chassisincluding two side plates and an accommodating space between the twoside plates; a motherboard disposed in the accommodating space; a powersupply module disposed in the accommodating space and arrangedcorresponding to the motherboard, the power supply module beingelectrically connected to the motherboard; two racks arranged parallelto each other and detachably connected to the server chassis, each ofthe racks including a plurality of insertion spaces, the storage devicesbeing vertically accommodated in the insertion spaces respectively, apivot structure being disposed at one side of the rack near themotherboard; and a system cooling module disposed in the accommodatingspace and electrically connected to the motherboard, the system coolingmodule being disposed adjacent to one side of the rack, wherein a firstcord passage is provided between the rack and each of the side plates, asecond cord passage is provided between the system cooling module andeach of the side plates, and the storage devices disposed in the racksare electrically connected to the motherboard via the first cord passageand the second cord passage, wherein the system cooling module furtherincludes a fixed frame and a plurality of fans disposed in the fixedframe, a bottom plate of the server chassis is provided with a pluralityof connectors, and each of the connectors is electrically connected tothe motherboard.
 8. The server according to claim 7, wherein the fansare vertically disposed along a direction of the fixed frame and areconnected to the respective connectors.
 9. The server according to claim1, further comprising an opening and an electronic device disposedcorresponding to the opening, the opening communicating with theaccommodating space, the electronic device being electrically connectedto the motherboard.
 10. The server according to claim 9, wherein theserver chassis further includes a partition plate disposed correspondingto the motherboard, and the partition plate divides the accommodatingspace into a first layer and a second layer.
 11. The server according toclaim 10, wherein the electronic device and the power supply module aredisposed in the first layer, and the mother board with a plurality ofinput/output ports is selectively disposed in the second layer.